(619) 230-1001

  Partial halal menu

  Alcohol-free

  $$ out of $$$$

   accepted

  Adequate restrooms

  Catering available (more info)

  Mass transit nearby

  Child-friendly premises

  Wheelchair accessible

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★★★★☆ The food is good, but not the best! But I would definitely go there again! Posted on February 15, 2016

★★★★☆ OK food. I would have to disagree with the comment that the food was better than restaurants in LA. Posted on December 22, 2015

★★★★★ Good food and great service Posted on January 3, 2015

★★★★★ Best of the best I like it more than hatem and Shamshiri in LA Posted on June 21, 2014

★★★☆☆ The food was pretty good and plentiful. We found it on a zabihah.com phone app. We called and asked TWICE if their meat was halal/zabihah and were assured it was. Days later, looking on this site to recommend Darband to another person, we see in the description that they "are not halal on certain days" and under "quick facts" listed as "partially halal"??? what the heck? why weren't we told WHICH DAYS THEY ARE NOT HALAL? We called to find out what is going on. The brother explained that every day all the meat is halal, except on Sunday, when the beef is not. The reason given was because their suppliers are closed on Sunday. We got the name of the supplier and called and they said they ARE open on Sunday. Naturally, the thought is "Why did he say the store was closed?" Given our previous experiences with restaurants who claim halal but are later found out not to be, this leaves us uneasy about going again. Owners, please comment and clarify here... Posted on February 17, 2014

★☆☆☆☆ we ordered one chicken, and another koobedeh, which is meat kobob. The meat kobob had a heavy rancid smell and I could not eat it. Although we did not drink anything except their heavy tea, the bill was over $30 whcih means $15 per plate. The ambiance of the restaurant, such as the broken or shaken chairs and tables and the poor service does not worth the $15 a plate. The tea pot had lots of grease on it and does not seems clean either. the smell, ambiance, and cleanliness definitly makes it a no no going back again! I am not an expert here, but as far as I know, Halal meat should not have rancid smell. So check with them on that particular meat that you ordered before you eat there. Posted on November 18, 2013

★★★★★ Great food and service. Place is so busy that you do feel a bit cramped sometimes. Owners were nice and we heard a lot of good stuff about the food and the owners from the cabbies in town. Posted on October 27, 2013

★★★★★ الأكل اكثر من ممتاز والخدمة ممتازة ، يوجد الكثير من الأطباق الإيرانية اللذيذة ، أوصي بالمطعم بشدة . Posted on March 18, 2013

★★★★★ Food was great, portions were huge, recommend the lamb shank and boneless chicken Posted on February 26, 2013

★★★★★ Great food, good prices, friendly people, and free tea! Posted on September 5, 2012

★★★☆☆ I've visited this place twice over the previous year when I was in town. The food, especially the kabobs, are very good. The prices are a bit expensive, but the portions are generous. The hot tea is non-stop as you like, but that's mostly a Persian thing. The drinks are from the cooler, so that's a negative since they are small, the young guy at the counter is always friendly and one of the owners was able to direct me to a nice masjid during Ramadhan. The only downside to this place are the bathrooms. They're very small and not too appealing, as men will use the women's bathroom (there's one one toilet in each), so I had to accompany my wife when she needed to go. One thing about some of the customers: brothers, learn to lower your gaze! My wife is beautiful no doubt, but she felt uncomfortable that some men were openly smiling at her when I had to leave the table. If I had seen it, I would have had words with whoever had done it, but my wife preferred to just leave. Because of that, I will only return here alone and get the food to go from now on. Posted on March 20, 2012

NR I was in San Diego for 6 days last week and ate at this restaurant for 3 days. Good food, good service, have a halal sign by the counter. The problem is the person who took our order says that his partner is a Muslim. That in itself is not a problem except that this person had very strong anti-Muslim sentiments. Since there were many Persian calligraphic pictures most talking about Hazrat Ali, I commented that I didn't realize that I could read Persian. Upon this this partner went into a triads of how the Arabs invaded Persia and spread islam with the power of the sword and changed their language and forced Persians to accept Islam and also forced non- Muslims to pay jaziyah. He was vet venomous which made me think of why this person would have a Muslim partner and why would he sell halal food if he is so anti- Muslim. Anyway the burden is his. After 3 days, we (I was with another Muslim colleague) did not go back again because of his attitude. Posted on July 17, 2011

★★★★★ Food was great, Service was great, Had a very Iranian environment which was very homey. and to the person that thinks people without hejab cant be muslims. GROW UP! there are some great muslims women who dont wear hejab yet are great muslimahs. but great place, specially for Iranians. Posted on April 4, 2011

★★★★★ My husband and I moved to San Diego 3 weeks ago and were looking for a place close by to eat. We're both Persian and Darband was within walking distance. The food was great, the portions amazing--during ramadan around iftar time, they have a great soup, and a substantial starter that is offered to those that were fasting at no extra cost. The owner is incredibly nice and while the atmosphere is not upscale, it kind of has a nostalgic Iranian kabobi feel to it that we love! The owner also recently informed me that they are in the process of remodeling the area next door and hopefully will be improving the atmosphere as well. If the place wasn't halal, ramadan would not be important to the place, and after talking to the owner, I don't have any doubts about the fact that the food is zabiha. We have been here 3 times since we first visited and would definitely go back again! Posted on August 30, 2010

★★★☆☆ Ate there a few months ago. Their food is average, dining place and location is also average. Posted on April 17, 2010

★☆☆☆☆ The owners are known Muslims yet no one there wears a hijab and I don't see any certificate of authenticity for the food being halal. Don't trust it. Posted on March 6, 2010

★★★★★ I was in San Diego for a conferance and wanted to try a halal restaurant. I called and verified that it was halal. We went there and the food was really good. I ordered Chicken Shish Kobab,. The portions were too large.. and i could not even finish all of it. I highly recommend and would go back if ever come back to San Diego. Posted on November 1, 2009

★★★★☆ superb place. lovely atmospher owner is very nice person. the beef/lamb was halal and chicken was not. Posted on October 4, 2004